Glasgow to Host 2018 Swimming Championships

Tollcross International Swimming Centre has reopened to the public, just weeks after playing host to the best ever Commonwealth Games. The news comes as Glasgow won the right to host the 2018 European Swimming Championships. Staff from Glasgow Life led the bid team that put forward the case for the city to the sport’s governing body at a meeting in Berlin.

The news builds on Glasgow’s reputation as a host of world-class sporting events. In 2015, the city will play host to the FIG World Gymnastics Championships and the European Judo Championships and Tollcross will be the destination for the IPC Word Swimming Championships.

Europe’s swimming governing body, the LEN Bureau voted in favour of Glasgow as the host of the 2018 European Championships in swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and open water swimming.

Glasgow emerged as the winner of the bidding procedure for the 2018 European Championships. President Paolo Barelli announced the result after the LEN Bureau meeting held in Berlin during the 32nd Europeans. The continental showcase will visit Scotland for the very first time in its history.

“The new policy of LEN is to choose major European cities in order to ensure the best possible conditions to the continent’s elite swimmers, divers, synchro swimmers and open water swimmers and to all representatives of our national federations” Paolo Barelli said. “The LEN Bureau acted in this sense while choosing Glasgow. Everyone had the chance to watch the outstanding success of the Commonwealth Games, recently held in the city. Organising that event at such a high level is a kind of guarantee for us for 2018.”

The LEN President added: “We are very much looking forward to see our European Championships being hosted in wonderful venues in 2018 and our great athletes of the four disciplines enjoying the warm hospitality of the people of Scotland.”

Paolo Barelli also noted that by taking this decision here in Berlin, four years before the start, “LEN is envisioning the need to allocate our most important events well in advance in order to secure enough time to our hosts to prepare everything the best possible way and be ready to stage a wonderful show, worthy of a worldwide attention and success.”

Members of the Glasgow bidding delegation were delighted after learning the LEN Bureau decision.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The decision by LEN to choose Glasgow as the host for the championships in 2018 is a direct legacy from hosting the Commonwealth Games where the swimming events were among the highlights with capacity crowds and incredible performances contributing to what have been declared the best ever Games.

“I was delighted to welcome LEN President Paolo Barelli to Tollcross during the Games to discuss bringing this event to our world-class venue and to showcase our capacity to deliver excellent, innovative and exciting sporting events. The Commonwealth Games was a game-changer for Glasgow but we are not resting on our laurels and this fantastic championships adds to our roster which include both the IPC World Swimming Championships at Tollcross and the Gymnastics World Championships at the Hydro in 2015.

“We look forward to continuing our sporting journey with this prestigious event as we work hard to develop job and investment opportunities for the citizens of Glasgow in one of the world’s top ten sporting cities.”

Ian Hooper, Director of Sport at Glasgow Life, said: “We have been working incredibly hard to secure these championships and I’m delighted that the quality of our bid has been recognised. Glasgow Life has been instrumental in winning major sporting events for the city and we will continue to build on our success as a global leader in both sport and culture.”